The Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA) shut down its activities in December 2020 at the end of its mandate. The administrative closure of the Centre was completed in November 2021.

Dossiers

  1. Scaling-up climate-smart agriculture solutions

    Impactful climate-smart projects and innovations, including agroecology techniques, alternative protein farming, and bundled ICT-enabled climate services, are building the resilience of agricultural stakeholders. To bring these interventions to scale, innovative financing, partnerships and enabling policies have a key role to play.

  2. Green energy

    A transition to sustainable energy can impact agricultural businesses at all stages of the value chain. By introducing renewables, businesses can mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, adapt to the effects of climate change and reap the economic benefits.

  3. A high priority for agriculture

    Agricultural innovations must have a more substantial impact to meet the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030 – which call for a concerted effort from the public and private sectors, as well as farmers and processors.

  4. Making value chains climate-smart

    Climate-smart agricultural (CSA) practices are increasingly adopted as a means to both adapt to a changing climate, and to mitigate agriculture’s negative environmental impacts. Increasing emphasis is placed on a systems approach to CSA, where climate-smart interventions seek to address the entire value chain.

  5. Building a better e-agribusiness

    The recent boom in ag-tech start-ups has helped to further agricultural transformation and improve farmers’ access to valuable ICT-enabled services. But to continue this progress it is pertinent that entrepreneurs design sustainable business models.

  6. Rural employment

    At the high level conference ‘ONE WORLD - No Hunger’ held in Berlin on 27-28 April 2017, G20 representatives highlighted the critical importance of creating better prospects for young people in rural areas.

  7. Agricultural mechanisation

    Agricultural mechanisation is essential for transforming Africa’s agricultural productivity. Whilst motorised equipment can be expensive to buy and costly to maintain, some interesting new initiatives are providing innovative strategies for farmers to access machinery instrumental in boosting production.

  8. The customers next door

    Regional trade deals are a first step towards linking up agricultural markets – but only a first step. Not just an easy alternative to global trade, the regional approach depends on agribusiness and infrastructure that works.

  9. The retail revolution

    With many of Africa’s economies amongst the fastest growing in the world, middle class urban consumers are increasingly changing the face of the food market in Africa. This evolving, more sophisticated market brings with it new challenges and opportunities.

  10. Open and big data

    Reliable data enables governments to draw up and assess more efficient policies and stakeholders to make better decisions. Agricultural statistics slipped out of favour to some extent until the mid-2000s, but the exponential increase in data volumes has prompted reinvestment in statistical information systems.

  11. Fodder and forage solutions

    The forecasted doubling of demand for meat and milk in developing countries in the next two decades offers significant opportunities for livestock producers. However, the availability of - and access to - quality fodder and livestock feed remains an important constraint.

  12. Empowering women

    Over 50% of all economically active women in developing regions work in the agricultural sector, but the gender gap persists. It is therefore essential to mainstream gender in production enhancement policies, while also empowering women. 

  13. Bridging the gap

    Financing agricultural value chains is a major challenge in ACP countries. To promote access to credit and reduce financial risks, CTA co-organised an international conference (Fin4Ag) in July 2014 in Nairobi with over 750 participants. The reinvention of current business and regulatory finance models has begun.

  14. Emerging nations play the agricultural card

    The growing presence of emerging countries on the world stage is driven primarily by economics, but geopolitical and diplomatic aspirations are also high and South-South cooperation is one way of achieving them. With the exception of Brazil, the agriculture sector is not overlooked but is by no means a priority sector for these new players.

  15. The digital revolution

    Buoyed by advances in ICT, a ‘digital revolution’ is creating a renaissance in developing countries’ agricultural value chain systems. This dramatic development was at the heart of discussions held during the ICT4Ag conference, organised by CTA and Rwanda’s Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources in Kigali in November 2013.

  16. Major forthcoming changes

    Population growth and the steadily increasing demand for protein that comes with the enhanced standard of living of communities in developing countries has triggered the need to develop livestock production. This is a challenge for many ACP countries. Genetic livestock improvement is an essential but incomplete solution.

  17. Wheels of change

    ACP universities are on the cusp of change as they strive to provide relevant higher education to the next generation of graduates, who will have to meet the development challenges of the 21st century. Through curriculum reform, partnership and use of ICTs, innovations to transform the way education is delivered are increasing across the regions.

  18. A bright future for Africa

    With rapid urban population growth and economic development in Africa, new, profitable markets herald a promising future for aquaculture. The African Union (AU) and the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) are counting on the private sector to develop sustainable aquaculture.